Compared boatload of M6 recordings for the last 8 minutes of the Finale . .

[barryguerrero]

I compared a huge boatload of M6 recordings last night - just for the last 8 minutes or so of the Finale. By far, for me, the winner is Karajan! That's in spite of the fact that I'm not that fond of his first three movements, nor the less than imposing hammer strokes. I really should investigate the various 'live' Karajan M6 bootlegs that are out there. 

[John Kim]

I like Karajan's M6th quite a lot, especially III.Adagio & IV. Finale. I. is pretty good too but I can't stand with the super fast coda. II.
 Scherzo sounds all wrong to me, sadly.

John

[barryguerrero]

I'm not a fan of Karjan's M6 DG recording at all, except for the from the last allegro "charge!" section to the end. The hammer-strokes are underpowered. The scherzo is on the slow side, while the various trio sections are ever slower. The "Andante Moderato" is made into an Adagio, etc., etc. There's a live recording on Youtube of Karajan doing it in Paris that strikes me as flowing better.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkdPc4f8qMs&t=3s